North Korean forces face heavy losses due to drone warfare
Reuben F. Johnson, a former Pentagon consultant and currently a military technology analyst, addressed information regarding the losses suffered by North Korean forces in the Kursk region. In his opinion, these losses are connected to both Ukrainian weaponry and the tactics that Russia has chosen for its ally.
In an intelligence update issued on March 28, British intelligence estimated North Korean losses (killed and wounded) in the Kursk region at over 5,000 soldiers. Reuben F. Johnson considers these statistics as "catastrophic." He notes that this implies Pyongyang has already lost nearly half of the forces sent to aid Russia (estimated to be about 11,000 soldiers).
North Koreans surprised by drones
"The high number of casualties among North Korean soldiers is almost certainly a result of the standard Russian tactics. What is euphemistically termed as meat attacks. These are massive assaults where individual units leave relatively safe armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles and advance only on foot," writes Reuben F. Johnson in his analysis.
North Koreans moving on foot are defenseless against the weapons Ukrainians rely on during operations in the Kursk region. This primarily includes artillery and drones. North Korean prisoners confirmed they were not prepared for encounters with unmanned vehicles and were surprised by the widespread presence of this weaponry on the battlefield. In Kursk, Ukrainians primarily use small FVP (first-person view) drones. These are often simple constructions with a camera providing real-time viewing and several pounds of explosive payload. For infantry soldiers, these constructions are deadly.
Huge North Korean losses at Kursk
"Such tactics keep Ukrainian forces engaged, allowing the Russians to stay behind and look for weak points in Ukrainian lines that might be exposed. Then, they will send in Russian units, which can provide additional combat power," continues Reuben F. Johnson.
Western intelligence, as well as Ukrainians, believe that Pyongyang has already sent additional reinforcements to Russia in the form of several more thousand soldiers.
The first North Korean soldiers appeared in the Kursk region in November of last year. Almost from the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the Russian aggressor has been supported by deliveries of North Korean artillery shells. Additionally, it can rely on some stockpiles of North Korean ballistic missiles KN-23 with a range of about 370 miles, as well as M1989 "Koksan" artillery systems and multiple rocket launchers.
